Madeleine K. Albright

Albright was the 64th Secretary of State of the United States. In 1997, she was named the first female Secretary of State and became, at that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. As Secretary of State, Albright reinforced America’s alliances, advocated democracy and human rights and promoted American trade and business, labor and environmental standards abroad.

From 1993 to 1997, Albright served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and as a member of the President’s Cabinet. She is a professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. She chairs both the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, the Pew Global Attitudes Project and serves as president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation. Albright serves on the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Policy Board, a group tasked with providing the secretary of defense with independent, informed advice and opinion concerning matters of defense policy. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Aspen Institute. In 2009, Albright was asked by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to chair a group of experts focused on developing NATO’s New Strategic Concept.

On May 29, 2012 President Obama awarded the U.S. Medal of Freedom to Dr. Albright—the nation’s highest civilian honor—citing the inspiration her life is to all and that her scholarship and insight continue to make the world a better, more peaceful place.

Albright is the author of five New York Times best-sellers: her autobiography, Madam Secretary: A Memoir, (2003); The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs, (2006); Memo to the President: How We Can Restore America’s Reputation and Leadership, (2008); Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box, (2009); and, her most recent book, Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948, (April, 2012) in which she tells the story of Albright’s experiences and those of her family during and immediately after World War II, providing a fresh lens through which to view some of the modern era’s most tumultuous years.